Job Description

• Have you got experience using payroll systems to an advanced level?
• Can you work under pressure and within a deadline driven environment?
• Do you have at least 3+ years of payroll experience in a large and complex organisation?

Kōrero mō te tūranga - About the role

Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington is currently recruiting a Payroll Adviser on a permanent, full-time contract.

Key responsibilities:

• Process payroll information into relevant HR systems, accurately to ensure all payments are made to employees in an accurate, timely manner as required.
• Provide clear and researched explanations in simple language that enables the building of a better understanding by customers of relevant policy, process, procedure and guidelines.
• Support the Payroll Team Leader and Payroll Manager with complex or escalated queries.
• Review, analyse and complete complex pay calculations.
• Ensure accurate reconciliation of payroll accounts to balance sheet, preparation of PAYE and ACC returns, superannuation schemes and related processes are known and documented.
• Support continuous improvement activities within the team to ensure enhanced service delivery.
• Develop an understanding of the related systems, payroll SQL and payroll configuration.

Ō pūmanawa - About you

You will be a motivated, customer-focused individual who can take the initiative, provide excellent administration and able to work as part of a cohesive team. To thrive in this role with an excellent manner with people, strong attention to detail, and self-management skills. This role is busy, challenging, extremely rewarding and interesting for the individual with the right temperament.

Key requirements:

• At least 3+ years payroll experience in a large and complex organisation.
• Demonstrated experience in administrative tasks including accurate data entry and checking.
• Proven experience delivering high quality customer service and managing the end-to-end workflow and output of a Payroll team.
• Experience using payroll systems to an advanced level, in particular Oracle HCM and/or Ascender (aPay).
• Understanding of payroll processing procedures and supporting functions.
• Ability to work under pressure and within a deadline driven environment.
• Ability to work as part of a cohesive team.
• Competent using Microsoft Word and Excel packages to an intermediate level.

Click here to see further information, including salary details.

If this link is not available, click 'apply' to view this on the University careers page.

Close date for vacancy: 02 June 2026.

Contact details for vacancy: If you have any questions regarding this role, please get in touch with Amy Walton (amy.walton@vuw.ac.nz).

How to apply: Please ensure you are applying for this role directly on our careers page and not via email. Candidates must submit supporting documents along with their resume, such as a cover letter. Applicants who do not have residency or citizenship and require a visa to work at the University must clearly indicate their visa status in their application and understand that if they do not have a current, relevant visa, they will need to secure this independently.

We can only consider applicants who are citizens or residents of New Zealand or Australia or on a current working visa. Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and we may progress with suitable applicants prior to the application closing date. Applications from recruitment agencies are not accepted.

Mō Te Herenga Waka - About Our University

Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington is renowned for its high-quality research and exceptional teaching. We attract people from around the world. Our university campus spans Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington - the creative, scientific and political centre of Aotearoa New Zealand - and our students thrive on the connections we have made here.

Explore the many benefits of working at Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington. Find out where you fit in our strategic direction and learn more about our research expertise